A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Colier family of Scotland.
Reg. 8714 · Scottish, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
wolfReward from long service and hard work
oakGreat age, strength and steadfastness
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Historical info
Source
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Gu. on a chev. betw. three wolves' heads erased ar. as many oak trees eradicated ppr. fructed or”
ScotlandPortmore, c. 1703
Where the Colier Arms Were Recorded
Edinburgh
Map of Scotland showing where the Colier arms are recorded
The Colier arms were recorded in Portmore, c. 1703.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Edinburgh.
Edinburgh was the seat of Scotland's government, its courts and its heralds. Families with business there settled nearby, and being close to where arms were recorded is exactly why so many of them appear.
This is where the arms were entered in the register. Families often moved to other parts of the country, so the same name can turn up in more than one region.
The body that granted and recorded arms in Scotland in this period.
Anne of Great Britain
Sovereign of the period
Anne of Great Britain
1702–1707
Reigning in Scotland when the Colier arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Scotland
Scottish heraldry is unique because it treats a coat of arms as a piece of personal property protected by law. Only one person can own a specific design at any given time. When a family grows, the head keeps the original shield while other relatives must apply for their own distinct version with slight changes to prove their specific identity.
Granting authority
The Court of the Lord Lyon acts as the official body that regulates and controls all heraldic matters throughout Scotland.
How they got arms
Individuals obtain a legal right to their arms through a formal petition process that confirms their identity and family connection.
Where arms were recorded
All valid coats of arms are officially entered into the Public Register of All Arms and Bearings starting from 1672.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Scotland.
Origin & History of the Colier Family in Scotland
The surname Colier is an occupational name that traces its roots back to the medieval period in Britain. It was originally used to identify people who worked as charcoal burners or sellers of coal, which was a vital trade for heating homes and fueling early industrial processes. By the time the family was documented in Edinburgh in 1703, the name had become a stable identifier for households living within the bustling urban environment of Scotland’s capital. During this era, families with this name were often integrated into the local merchant or trade guilds that defined city life. As Edinburgh grew into a center of commerce and education, the Colier family members likely contributed to the city's development through their roles in these traditional trades. Their presence in the city records at the start of the eighteenth century highlights a long-standing connection to the social and economic fabric of Scottish history.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Colier
Derived from the Middle English word for a charcoal burner.
This name
ColierAn occupational surname for someone who produced or sold charcoal.
also spelled
Colyer
Colyere
Kolyair
Collyer
Colier
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland: Their Origin, Meaning, and History, 1946
National Records of Scotland, Edinburgh Register of Marriages, 1595–1800, 1703
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
wolfReward from long service and hard work
oakGreat age, strength and steadfastness
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
wolfReward from long service and hard work
oakGreat age, strength and steadfastness
